Menu

AWHC

That day was the last time I saw my family

, , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Hi there — my name is Nellie, I’m the tiny foal being chased by a big helicopter in the photo below.

I haven’t seen my family since the day this photo was taken last year, and I’m so scared and lonely without them. Here’s what happened: 

My herd was grazing peacefully on our home range (Twin Peaks, in California) when these loud machines descended from the sky. The whole thing was a panicked blur. Throughout the entire chase, all I could hear was the deafening whirr of the terrifying helicopter. I struggled to keep up with my mom and the rest of my family, as we were running for a very long time in the high summer heat and across rocky terrain. After what felt like forever, I was chased into a metal trap, with walls much taller than me.

I barely made it out alive that day, and I’m lucky I did — my friends at the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) told me that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the federal government agency that rounded us up, reported that there were 31 deaths: All were members of my herd. But AWHC’s work didn’t end once the helicopters landed. Their investigations team dug in and uncovered that 69 additional members of my herd lost their lives in the days and months after the “roundup” and at least 14 of them were babies just like me, with their wild lives cut tragically short.

Now, I’ve heard that what happened to me is going to happen to my herd again next summer, and to more than 20,000 other horses and burros in 2024.

My friends at AWHC are doing everything they can to fight back and defend us. Can you help them? They need to raise $200,000 by the end of the year to be ready for the fight. Luckily, a group of generous individuals have offered to match donations up to $125,000 to help them do it — so whatever you give will go twice as far.

DONATE TO PROTECT MY HERD

Friend, even for foals like me who survived the initial roundup, many of us suffered greatly or succumbed to our injuries in the days following. AWHC uncovered these vet records from the aftermath of my herd’s roundup:

“This foal arrived at the Litchfield Corrals so tired and so sore it could barely move. Suspect this foals death was from the stress of being run long distances in rough terrain and in high temperatures”

“Dr. (REDACTED), DVM, stated that these foals are foundering due to being run too far during the gather”

“3‐4 month old foal found dead in mare/foal pen. Necropsy showed no obvious cause of death, possible stress from gather”

If AWHC wasn’t there to document the day the “helicopters” chased my herd and my family, nobody would know about what’s happening to wild horses and burros like me. And if they hadn’t done their investigative work through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), nobody would know about our suffering in the aftermath.

Friend, AWHC is standing up for me and all wild horse herds across the West, both out in the field and on Capitol Hill. We are counting on AWHC to be our last line of defense, and to ensure our freedom for generations to come, but they need your support to keep fighting. Can you make a 2X matched contribution before the end of the year to help them?

MAKE A DONATION NOW

Thank you for listening to my story, and for standing up for those who don’t have a voice.

Nellie the Foal

Fighting for our cherished wild burros

, , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) inhumane and costly approach to wild horse management often gets a lot of attention, but the plight of wild burros can be overlooked. At the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC), we’re committed to giving these remarkable animals the attention they deserve. 

Today, we’d like to tell you the story of Jolene and Porter. But first, we have a crucial ask. Can you chip in to help us hit our $200,000 end-of-year fundraising goal? Every donation helps us make a difference in the lives of wild horses and burros, and we need your support to continue our important programs in 2024.

Photo by Steve Paige

Jolene and her baby Porter are from the Porter Springs Herd Management Area (HMA) – which Porter is named after – located in Nevada’s 2.2 million acre Blue Wing Complex. For years, thousands of wild burros and wild horses roamed these lands freely. But the photo you see above was taken just before a massive roundup in 2022 that changed the lives of many of these animals forever.

Over 800 burros and 1,000 horses were chased down by helicopters and captured in the 2022 Blue Wing Complex roundup. Even worse, the BLM publicly reported that 12 deaths occurred during the operation – including many older burros who had lived their entire lives wild and free, only to be rounded up and needlessly euthanized due to conditions like “pre-existing fractures.”

The BLM is now coming for their herd again in 2024. The agency is planning to round up over 300 wild burros in July, and there’s no telling whether burros like Jolene and Porter will be able to remain free.

AWHC is the last line of defense for these innocent animals. We’re fighting in the field, in the courts, and on Capitol Hill to put an end to helicopter roundups and to conserve the lands that wild burros and horses inhabit. Can you please chip in to support our work to end the suffering of our wild herds? Your support means so much to us, and to burros like Jolene and Porter.

The trauma of the Blue Wing Complex did not end when the roundup did, Meredith. AWHC’s investigations team dug further into the story of what happened both during and after the roundup. We got to work filing critical Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to expose the truth about the consequences of BLM helicopter roundups, and it was far worse than what the agency told the public.

Our FOIA requests revealed that in little more than a month, 31 Blue Wing burros died from Lipemia/Hyperlipidemia — a deadly and preventable blood disease that burros are particularly vulnerable to, often induced by extreme stress and nutritional deprivation. This stress, caused by helicopter roundups, leads to some burros losing their will to live, ceasing to eat, and wasting away. In addition to the 31 deaths, another six burros bled to death due to gelding complications.

That’s a total of 37 burros whose deaths would have been hidden were it not for the vital work of AWHC’s investigations team. We’re fighting to stop helicopter roundups and to secure the humane conservation of our wild herds. But until we make that happen, we must continue to expose the full impacts of the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program and hold the agency accountable. Can you chip in towards our End-of-Year goal to help us continue this important work?

DONATE TODAY →

Thank you for standing up for our wild burros!

– Team AWHC

Can you help us cover the cost of an emergency roadside kit?

, , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

My name is Steve. I am a fertility control darter for Nevada’s Virginia Range program, and a roundup observer for the American Wild Horse Campaign. As AWHC told you this morning, thousands of Nevada’s wild horses will be chased by government helicopters and rounded up in the coming days.

I often trek out to the far corners of the West to bear witness to the intense scenes unfolding as the sound of the helicopter cuts through normally serene desert landscapes. Hundreds to thousands of wild horses are relentlessly driven from freedom to confinement in a heartbreaking display of cruelty.

My boots-on-the-ground role as a roundup observer is rooted in the core of our mission and is fueled by AWHC’s Observation Fund, which is powered by supporters like you. By having me and our team of field representatives on the ground observing the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) cruel helicopter roundups, we can ensure any inhumane treatment does not go undocumented and unaddressed

Your support of AWHC’s Observation Fund helps send observers, like me, into the field to hold the BLM accountable and build a case for substantial reform in Congress. Here’s an example of how your support has an impact on our work to document roundups.

➡ $75 covers the cost of an emergency roadside kit. We carry these in case we run into an emergency – which has happened before in these remote areas without cell phone service.
➡ $100 covers daily fuel costs to drive to these highly remote public lands where the BLM conducts its roundups.
➡ $200 covers two nights in a motel for us as sometimes we stay days to weeks in the field as the roundups continue.
➡ $1,000 covers the cost of vehicle repairs and off-road tire replacements that are necessary to reach the remote BLM observation points.

Oftentimes, we AWHC representatives are the ONLY members of the public on site to document these federal operations and hold the BLM accountable. We are your eyes and ears, and the photographs and videos we capture are the public’s window into the reality faced by our wild horses and burros in these remote regions of the West.

The AWHC team and our roundup observers are working in overdrive to hold the BLM accountable. We documented nearly every roundup last fiscal year and we need to hit our $200,000 end-of-year fundraising goal before Sunday at midnight to continue this work in 2024. With helicopters descending into roundups in rural Nevada right now, the wild horses need your help more than ever. Can you chip in to help AWHC continue sending observers like me out in the field ?

$75 → Emergency Roadside Kits
$100 → Fill Our
Fuel Tanks
$200 → Motel
Rooms
$1,000 → Vehicle Repairs

Thank you,

Steve Paige
Field Representative

Meredith, happy holidays!✨

, , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

On behalf of everyone at the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC), we wish you and your family a very happy and joyous holiday season!

Over the past decade, your unwavering support has transformed AWHC’s work to protect America’s wild horses and burros. 

Together, we’ve established the largest grassroots advocacy network ever for this cause. We’ve pioneered the world’s largest humane fertility control program, proving there’s a better way to protect these majestic animals. We’ve launched groundbreaking habitat conservation initiatives, established crucial legal precedents and championed legislative victories in California, Colorado and at the federal level. And we’re just getting started.

Your support and dedication mean so much to the cause of humane conservation, and we never take for granted the trust you have put in AWHC to be a leader in the fight to protect our magnificent wild horses and burros. 

So from our herd to yours, we hope you have a happy holiday season, and a healthy, joyous New Year!

With gratitude, 

Suzanne + the AWHC Team

P.S. As you’re thinking about your end-of-year giving, can you please consider the American Wild Horse Campaign? We have been able to do so much work this year, and it’s all thanks to your support. We need your help to continue this important work in 2024. You can make a donation using the button below.

DONATE

 

FWD: We’re almost there!

, , , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We wanted to share a big update on our end-of-year fundraising campaign. Our team crunched the numbers this morning, and we’re only $7,812 away from reaching our $50,000 goal to unlock our 2X matching offer!

DONATE →

unlocking this match is an opportunity we cannot let pass us by. Over 20,000 wild horses and burros are set to be rounded up by the federal government next year, and we need all the support we can get to ensure we’re able to step up for these animals – whether that’s in the fields, in the courts, or on CapitolHill.

Can you chip in before midnight tonight to help us reach our goal and unlock this critical 2X match for our end-of-year fundraising?

CHIP IN

– Team AWHC

Help us unlock a 2X match!
Can you help us unlock a 2X matching gift to help us continue our critical work saving wild horses and burros in 2024? We need to raise $50,000 before Friday at midnight to unlock this match.

DONATE →

Over the last few days, we’ve reflected on some incredible victories we’ve secured this year for our wild herds. But at the heart of all of these success stories is one key ingredient: you. 

Folks like you are the driving force behind our work to fight for our wild herds. When we raise awareness about what’s happening to wild horses and burros and mobilize the many thousands of people who want these incredible animals protected, we are able to move mountains.

DONATE →

For example, our campaign to raise awareness about the pointless and cruel nature of the McCullough Peaks wild horse removal generated over 200,000 emails to key officials and touched more than 2 million members of the public. This public outcry put pressure on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and contributed to the agency’s decision to reduce the number of horses it plans to remove.

In North Dakota, our billboard and ad campaign to save the historic wild horse population who inhabit the popular Theodore Roosevelt National Park generated intense public opposition to a federal plan to eliminate the horses. This public outcry fueled opposition from the state’s political leadership and has created intense pressure to preserve these historic horses. 

And across the country, AWHC’s advertising and media campaigns raised public awareness of the cruelty of helicopter roundups. From our billboards in New York City’s Times Square to the compelling images and videos that our field observers have collected, our efforts have brought national attention to the issue of wild horse conservation.

We know that when people hear about what’s happening to wild horses and burros, they are outraged. It’s our job to continue building public awareness and the grassroots army necessary to rise up and advocate for the protection  of America’s mustangs and burros – but this work wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of folks like you. 

Your contributions enable us to continue shining a light on what’s happening to our wild herds, and we’re incredibly grateful to count you as one of our supporters. As we gear up to continue this important work in 2024, will you chip in to our end-of-year goal to fuel our awareness efforts next year? We still have one day left to raise $50,000 so we can unlock a massive 2X matching offer from one of our generous donors, and we need the help of everyone reading this to reach it! >>

DONATE →

Thank you,

Team AWHC

What we’ve achieved for wild horse conservation this year

, , , , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Help us unlock a 2X match!
Can you help us unlock a 2X matching gift to help us continue our critical work saving wild horses and burros in 2024? We need to raise $50,000 before Friday at midnight to unlock this match.

DONATE →

In addition to our legislative advocacy work, our growing field programs are a critical part of our mission to advance wild horse and burro conservation.

Today, we’re going to tell you about the great strides we’ve taken this year in this area – but first, please take a moment to chip in towards our end-of-year goal! We need to raise $50,000 by this Friday to unlock a generous 2X match offer from our gracious donors, and we’re over halfway there! >>

HELP UNLOCK OUR 2X MATCH  →

In 2023, we achieved several great victories for our on-range programs. First, we celebrated four years of our flagship PZP fertility control program on Nevada’s Virginia Range. This program has been a remarkable success, achieving the goal of vaccinating 80% of the mare population in less than four years, and reducing the foaling rate by 66% by the end of peak foaling season 2023 as compared to 2022. 

Through the successful implementation of PZP vaccine programs, we’re taking a significant step toward reshaping the future of wild horse conservation and proving that there is a better, more humane, and less costly way to manage wild horse populations. That’s why we’ve expanded our support of conservation efforts and of the implementation of fertility control programs to other wild horse herds. Can you please make a contribution to AWHC to help power these fertility control programs?

SUPPORT OUR FERTILITY CONTROL PROGRAMS →

Earlier this year, we secured a federal grant from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to support the humane fertility control program that we are implementing on wild horses in Utah’s Cedar Mountain Herd Management Area (HMA)! This collaborative effort involves the Utah BLM, the HMA ranching permittee, and AWHC working together to humanely manage the Cedar Mountain wild horses, conserve their habitat, and eliminate helicopter roundups.

Additionally, we are providing logistical, financial, and darting support for the fertility control program in Nevada’s Pine Nut Mountains. With our assistance, the program has darted over 40% of the mare population with at least one PZP vaccination. This success in darting these wild horses, who are not habituated to human presence, is further proving the feasibility of this approach to keeping wild horses wild and in balance with their environment.

2023 was clearly a big year for our fertility control programs, but perhaps our most exciting achievement this year was the launch of our Land Conservancy Project – an innovative new initiative that will preserve and enhance key habitats for America’s wild herds. 

As part of this effort, AWHC acquired 3,300+ acres of prime habitat in Nevada’s beautiful Carson Valley to serve as a pilot program for the project! Through this pilot, we’re working to set the conservation standard for wild horse and burro protection by preserving and restoring habitat and developing collaborative partnerships with federal and local governments to further land and wildlife conservation goals.

We’re so proud of what we’ve accomplished together this year – but none of this would be possible without your support. We’re planning to go even further in 2024, and we need you with us to continue this momentum. Can you make a contribution to support these critical programs in 2024? If you chip in before Friday, you can help us unlock a 2X matching offer for our end-of-year fundraising and double the impact of your donation!

DONATE →

Thank you,

Team AWHC

 

A look back on our 2023 legislative wins

, , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Help us unlock a 2X match!
Can you help us unlock a 2X matching gift to help us continue our critical work saving wild horses and burros in 2024? We need to raise $50,000 before Friday at midnight to unlock this match.

CHIP IN →

Throughout 2023, we’ve secured some pretty incredible wins, furthering the wild horse and burro conservation cause. So with 2024 less than two weeks away, we’re going to take the next few days to look back on all the success we achieved together this year.

But first, we’d like to ask you to make a contribution towards our end-of-year goal. In case you missed it, all donations through December 31st will be matched up to $125,000, but only IF we raise the initial $50,000 we need before midnight this Friday! You can chip in here >>

HELP US UNLOCK
THE MATCH →

Today, we’re going to focus on the impact we’ve been able to make together both in Washington D.C. and in state legislatures across the country to protect our wild herds.

In Colorado, we achieved a major breakthrough with the passage of SB 23-275, The Wild Horse Project. This legislation established a dedicated working group in the state, tasked with enhancing on-range and off-range solutions for wild horse conservation. Additionally, the legislation allocated $1.5 million in state funding to support these efforts.

On Capitol Hill, we worked with our partners in Congress to introduce several critical bills that would advance humane reforms to the federal management of our nation’s wild herds, including:

  • The Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2023 (H.R. 3656), which would finally ban costly and inhumane helicopter roundups of wild horses and burros;
    • The Supporting America’s Forgotten Equines Act (H.R. 3475), which would ban equine slaughter for human consumption in the U.S. and the export of horses for slaughter abroad;
    • And the Ejiao Act (H.R. 6021), which would ban the U.S. import of products containing Ejiao, a gelatin made from donkey hides.

And finally, AWHC secured the support of 77 Members of Congress to include protective language for wild horses and burros in the House and Senate Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills. The House passed its bill, which includes protection from slaughter and dedicated funding for fertility control. Further, it also directs the BLM to explore alternatives to helicopter roundups — marking the first time in history that Congress has addressed this issue! The Senate has not yet passed its final version of the funding bill.

AWHC’s legislative advocacy work is critical to securing a safe future for our wild herds, so they can live freely as they deserve. When we create partnerships with allies on the Hill and in state governments throughout the West, we create progress. This year’s wins for wild horses and burros are an example of just that. 

If you’re still with us in the fight to protect America’s wild horses and burros, will you donate whatever you can afford towards our end-of-year goal to help us continue this important work in 2024? If we raise $50,000 before midnight on Friday, we’ll unlock a generous 2X match from one of our major donors, meaning you can double our legislative impact next year!

DONATE NOW →

Thank you!

American Wild Horse Campaign

Celebrating the 52nd Anniversary of the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act

, , , , , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Today we are celebrating the 52nd anniversary of the passage of the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.

Before delving into the remarkable story of “Wild Horse Annie,” the pioneer wild horse advocate, and her relentless efforts to pass this crucial law, that awarded federal protections to these beloved equines, we have an important ask of you. We’re approaching our end-of-year deadline to raise $200,000 and empower us to make 2024 a remarkable year. Can you chip in a donation of any amount today so we can continue our conservation work in the field, on the Hill, and in the courts in 2024?

CHIP IN

Velma B. Johnston, or Wild Horse Annie, was a tireless advocate for wild horses and burros, and her legacy lives on through the work AWHC does and through the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.

Wild Horse Annie saw the ruthless and indiscriminate manner in which wild horses were being rounded up from public lands during the 1950s in Nevada. At that time, America’s wild horse population was in rapid decline, and many of these incredible animals were captured by “mustangers” for slaughter.

Not being one to sit on the sidelines, Wild Horse Annie took matters into her own hands. She organized a massive grassroots movement to bring attention to this issue. She brought Americans from across the country together to push for groundbreaking legislation. In fact, she mobilized so many people that wild horse protection was the second most popular issue that constituents wrote to Congress about in 1971.

Because of the work of Wild Horse Annie, Congress unanimously passed the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. This is the most important legislation for wild horses in the United States, and we continue to see its impact today. 

Today, 52 years later, the Act has been significantly weakened thanks to the lobbying efforts of special interest groups. That’s where AWHC comes in, our mission is to fulfill the promise made 52 years ago, but we can’t do it alone. With over 20,000 wild horses and burros targeted for roundups this year, our work has never been more important. Can you make a donation to help support our mission to continue the legacy Wild Horse Annie? >>

Our team has been working in the field to document the mistreatment of wild horses and burros, fighting to bring their stories to light, and litigating in the courts to protect these innocent animals. The thing is, we can’t do it alone.

Today, we’re asking you to join us in commemorating the legacy of Wild Horse Annie. It’s up to all of us to continue the work that she started protecting wild horses and burros. Will you please join us in our mission to conserve the West’s wild herds by making a donation of any amount to the American Wild Horse Campaign and help us hit our $200,000 fundraising goal?

CHIP IN

Thank you,

The American Wild Horse Campaign

P.S. Every donation you make will be MATCHED 2X up to $125,000 to help us hit our $200,000 end-of-year fundraising goal, but only if we can raise an initial $50,000 before next Friday. If we’re going to be able to take advantage of this opportunity, we need your help. You can make a donation of any amount today to help us unlock this match.

FWD: A major update on the BLM’s 2024 roundup plans

, , , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We have a major update to share with you.

Last week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its updated roundup and removal schedule for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. The agency is now planning an additional 22 roundups for FY 2024, raising the total number of wild horses and burros that will be targeted from 8,000 to over 20,000.

That’s over double the number of animals that were initially slated for capture. In fact, these updated figures would now match the number of wild horses and burros rounded up in FY 2020, which was a record year for roundups.

We stand ready to document this escalation and we’re going to continue to raise awareness, educate Congress, take legal action when we can, and set the standard for humane wild horse conservation. Your support will now be more important than ever as we prepare for what’s to come. 

In case you missed our email yesterday, we set a massive end-of-year goal to raise $200,000 in order to power our 2024 wild horse and burro conservation agenda. And today, we got confirmation that a generous donor has stepped up and pledged to match EVERY donation towards our end-of-year goal, up to $125,000.

MAKE A 2X CONTRIBUTION NOW

This is huge. This match means you have a chance to double the impact your contribution can make on our efforts to fight for wild horses and burros next year. And with over 20,000 wild horses and burros now targeted by the BLM in 2024, we can’t afford to waste this opportunity.

The thing is, this matching opportunity will only be unlocked after we’ve raised an initial $50,000 to prove we’ve got the support to reach our goal. So, we need you to step up. Will you help us reach our $200,000 end-of-year goal with a 2X matched donation today? It won’t be easy, but we know with your continued support, there’s nothing we can’t achieve for our wild herds.

HAVE YOUR GIFT DOUBLED

— Team AWHC

Take Action for Arizona’s Wild Horses

, , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We have both encouraging and concerning updates from Arizona to share with you.

First, the positive news: The recent lawsuit threatening the humane management of the Salt River wild horses was dismissed by the US District Court for the District of Arizona. The lawsuit was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and trophy hunting groups. The United States Forest Service (USFS), responsible for the Tonto National Forest where the horses reside, successfully moved to dismiss the lawsuit, exposing factual inaccuracies in the CBD’s complaint. The American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) and the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) also filed a motion to intervene, highlighting misinformation in the CBD complaint.

In October of this year, the judge granted the USFS’s motion to dismiss, but gave CDB 30 days to amend its complaint. On November 30, the 30-day window closed without action from CBD, resulting in the lawsuit being officially dismissed in the lower court. This victory ensures the continued protection of the Salt River wild horses and safeguards the successful humane management program.

Now, the unfortunate news: In the Apache Sitgreaves Forest, just 150 miles from the Tonto National Forest, the USFS shipped 45 captured Alpine wild horses to a notorious slaughter auction in Texas. Fortunately, the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group and other organizations rallied together to find placement for all 45 horses. However, the USFS is continuing to roundup wild horses in an attempt to eradicate them from the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, meaning more of these magnificent animals are at risk of being shipped to kill pens unless the agency changes its deadly policy.

TAKE ACTION

Your voice can play a crucial role in safeguarding these beloved and historic animals. Join us in urging the USFS to adopt humane management practices that prioritize the protection and humane treatment of wild horses on our public lands.

TAKE ACTION

The American Wild Horse Campaign

Thank YOU!

, , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

From the entire American Wild Horse Campaign team, thank you. 

This Giving Tuesday, we shattered records and raised $146,690.88, thanks to your support. We are touched by your generosity and your belief in our mission. Every cent of the money we raised will support the fight for the freedom and safety of America’s wild horses and burros. 

In 2023, your donations made it possible for AWHC to educate millions of Americans about the plight of our nation’s wild horses and burros, expose the realities of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) roundups, uncover inhumane conditions in BLM holding facilities, investigate the Adoption Incentive Program (AIP), and so much more. 

We have an ambitious agenda for 2024 and we know we will make great strides, thanks to your generosity. We hope that you will continue to stand with AWHC and with wild horses and burros, and there are many ways to stay involved! Click this link to learn more about how you can take action to protect wild horses and burros. 

From all of us at the American Wild Horse Campaign, thank you again. We can’t do this work without you, and we are deeply honored by your support. 

With gratitude, 


Suzanne Roy
Executive Director
American Wild Horse Campaign

Giving Tuesday is TOMORROW!

, , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Giving Tuesday is TOMORROW!
Matching Fund: unlocked
We need all hands on deck to help us hit our $100,000 fundraising goal for Giving Tuesday. Can you chip in right away?

Chip in →

We can’t believe it. Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, and it’s our biggest fundraising day of the year.

This year, we set an ambitious goal to raise $100,000 through our Giving Tuesday efforts so we can continue to do what we do best: conserve wild horses and burros on our public lands. Can you add a contribution below to help us hit our goal?

Chip in →

What’s more, a generous donor has stepped up to match every contribution up to our $100,000 goal, giving us 2X the impact for Giving Tuesday. This is the best possible time to donate to the American Wild Horse Campaign because your donation will have double the impact. 

Your donation will:

Double the impact on our work observing and documenting Bureau of Land Management roundups. This means more resources to monitor, document, and advocate for the humane treatment of these animals, ensuring their safety and well-being during these inhumane capture operations.

Double the impact on our work to amplify awareness about the plight of wild horses and burros through social and traditional media coverage.

Double the impact on our work fighting in the courts to defend the rights and habitats of wild horses and burros, standing firm against violations of the laws enacted to protect them.

Double the impact on our work urging federal and state lawmakers to enact policies that strengthen protections for wild horses and burros, and promote sustainable and humane management practices.

Double the impact saving wild horses and burros. 

With Giving Tuesday just a few hours away, we’re asking you to step up NOW and chip in what you can to help us continue saving wild horses and burros. Our team is ready to lead the fight, but we can’t do it alone. Your support is key and with this match, it goes even further. Will you please help us keep the momentum going by donating ahead of Giving Tuesday?

Chip in $20
($40 impact) →
Chip in $35
($70 impact) →
Chip in $50
($100 impact) →
Chip in more →

Thank you for supporting our critical work.

Team AWHC

Giving Tuesday is just TWO days away!

, , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Our BIGGEST fundraising day of the year is just over 48 hours away. And we’ve got great news – last week, we raised $35,000 towards Giving Tuesday and unlocked a 2X matchfrom one of our generous donors!

Every single donation towards our $100,000 Giving Tuesday goal will be matched, meaning you can DOUBLE your impact. Please help us get a head start on our goal with a contribution now! >>

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL!

As we gear up for Giving Tuesday, we’re setting the stage for our work in 2024. Achieving our $100,000 goal is more than just a number; it means having the resources to support and continue all of our vital programs that defend and protect wild horses and burros. And next year, our work will be more important than ever.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is gearing up to continue its cruel helicopter roundups across the West, posing a serious threat to the freedom and safety of thousands of wild horses and burros. These roundups often leave these animals traumatized, and many sustain serious injuries while trying to evade capture. Help us fight back. >>

This year, far too many innocent wild horses and burros, including many young foals, lost their lives thanks to government mismanagement. Once captured, these magnificent creatures are crammed into overburdened government-holding facilities where they face inhumane conditions, disease, injury, and death. Even worse, they are at risk of entering the slaughter pipeline through the BLM’s disastrous Adoption Incentive Program (AIP).

Your support this Giving Tuesday can help us fight back. Hitting this $100,000 goal would help power:

  • Our direct rescue efforts to track and rescue victims of the AIP before they’re shipped to slaughter;
  • Our investigations work to uncover the truth about how our wild horses and burros are treated during roundups and in holding;
  • Our expanding fertility control programs that are proving to the BLM, Congress, and the public that there IS a better way to manage our wild herds;
  • Our advocacy work in Congress and state legislatures across the country to pass legislation that strengthens protections for wild horses and burros,
  • And so much more.

This Giving Tuesday, let’s make a real impact together. Your contribution can make a world of difference for the future of these magnificent animals. So will you join us in standing up for wild horses and burros? Remember, every donation that comes in before midnight on Tuesday will be doubled, so you can 2X your impact for 2024!

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL!

Thank you,

American Wild Horse Campaign

How we’re fighting for Wyoming’s wild herds – and what you can do to help

, , , 2

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

In just a few days, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is set to begin an inhumane and unnecessary roundup of Wyoming’s McCullough Peaks wild horses.

This bait trap operation would remove up to 41 innocent mustangs from their home and would threaten the genetic health and longevity of this historic wild horse herd. We need to speak up against this disastrous plan before it’s too late.

That’s why we’ve been ramping up our awareness efforts, both in Wyoming and nationwide, to stop the BLM from moving forward with the McCullough Peaks roundup.

We’ve launched billboards in Cody, Wyoming just outside of where the McCullough Peaks wild horses live:

We’ve also launched billboards in Cheyenne, Wyoming where BLM leadership is located, and mobile billboards in Washington, DC which are driving around the National Mall — including to the U.S. Department of the Interior — to pressure policymakers into action:

To bolster our awareness, we are also running ads in local newspapers, such as the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Casper Star-Tribune to spread the word about this pointless and cruel roundup. And finally, we launched TV ads on streaming services to bring national awareness to this issue.

WATCH THE SPOT

We’re doing all we can to make sure the McCullough Peaks wild horses stay wild and free – but we need your help. Here’s how you can help STOP the roundup of the McCullough Peaks wild horses:

  1. Send an email to the BLM, DOI, and Wyoming leadership by visiting keepwywyld.com
  2. Make the Calls:
  • Nada Culver, BLM Deputy Director: 202-255-6979
  • Andrew Archuleta, BLM Wyoming State Director: 307-775-6001
  • Tracy Stone Manning, BLM Director: 202-208-3801 (press 0 to be directed)

You can say: “Hi, my name is [NAME] and I am calling to ask that you please halt the removal of the McCullough Peaks wild horse herd. This removal does not need to happen right now and should at least wait until after winter to assess the condition of the population.”

  1. Click here to send an automated Tweet/X to BLM and DOI leadership

Thank you for stepping up. Together, we can stop this disastrous plan and protect this iconic wild horse herd.

– AWHC Team

P.S. We’ve got one week left to reach our $100,000 Giving Tuesday goal, and every donation made between now and then will be 2x MATCHED. Will you chip in and help us reach our goal so we can keep fighting for wild horses and burros in 2024?

Bringing the wild into your home

, , , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

My name is Kimerlee Curyl, and I’m a wild horse fine art photographer and advocate. I have been involved with the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) since its inception well over a decade ago. It has been my honor to also be an AWHC Ambassador, using my imagery not only to assist in AWHC’s advocacy efforts but also to raise funding to support its mission to protect these beautiful animals.

SHOP 20% OFF, 20% TO AWHC NOW THROUGH DEC 8

Wild horses are threatened by mismanagement and private interests that seek to eradicate them from the West, so these animals need powerful, professional advocates in their corner. I was proud to join AWHC this year as a co-plaintiff in its lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over its plan to eradicate two of my favorite herds in the Red Desert of Wyoming and drastically reduce the population of another. This area is already meeting the thriving natural ecological balance and allowing this to happen would set a horrific precedent for the future of not only Wyoming’s wild horses but every wild horse herd across the West.

AWHC is tirelessly and ceaselessly fighting on behalf of our wild herds, serving as their voice. This is why, beginning today through December 8, I am offering 20 percent off my fine art prints, with 20 percent of the proceeds going to AWHC, and the fight to protect Wyoming’s wild herds.

SHOP 20% OFF, 20% TO AWHC NOW THROUGH DEC 8

Alongside AWHC, I am dedicated to shedding light on the challenges that wild horses and burros face. I aspire to use my art as a medium to advocate for mustangs and burros, their preservation, and the conservation of their habitats on our public lands.

Each one of my pieces is designed to bring a touch of the wild right into your home and to spark meaningful conversations about our wild herds and the organizations and individuals advocating for their conservation.

SHOP 20% OFF, 20% TO AWHC NOW THROUGH DEC 8

Watching Wyoming’s wild horses run free for all these years has been one of my greatest joys.  Supporting AWHC is one of the most effective ways to make sure that they continue on running – for generations to come.

Stay Wild,

Kimerlee Curyl
Fine Art Photographer

SHOP NOW →

Will you help double our impact for wild horses and burros?

, , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We have a chance to DOUBLE our impact for wild horses and burros next year — but to do it, we need your help. >>

We set an ambitious $100,000 Giving Tuesday goal in order to raise the funds we need to continue our critical work in 2024. Well, thanks to the generosity of one of our major donors, every single donation towards our goal will be matched, bringing our total Giving Tuesday impact to $200,000.

CHIP IN TODAY →

The thing is this 2X match will only unlock once we raise an initial $35,000. This will show that we have the support to hit our Giving Tuesday goal. This is a huge opportunity we cannot let go to waste.

We have until the clock strikes midnight next Monday to raise the funds we need, and it’s going to take all hands on deck to make it happen. Can you please chip in right now to help us raise $35,000, unlock this critical match, and kickstart our Giving Tuesday efforts? >>

UNLOCK THE MATCH →

We can’t stress how impactful this match would be for us. Giving Tuesday is our most important fundraising drive of the year, and with this 2X offer from our generous donor, we have an incredible opportunity to significantly bolster our efforts to protect our wild herds in 2024.

Will you add a donation to help us take advantage of this incredible 2X matching opportunity before it’s too late? >>

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is planning to round upthousands more wild horses and burros this fiscal year. That means thousands more of these innocent animals are in danger of losing their freedom, their families, and even their lives. 

Our Giving Tuesday fundraising will be critical to helping us fight back for our wild horses and burros – from fueling our expanding fertility control programs, to supporting our rescue efforts, to powering our Legal Fund as we battle the BLM in the courts. And your support could help DOUBLE the impact of all these different efforts.

So, will you make a contribution now to help us raise $35,000 and unlock this critical 2X match? We really need your help to kickstart our Giving Tuesday efforts, and we can’t let this opportunity go to waste.

UNLOCK THE MATCH →

Thank you!

Team AWHC

Remembering our beloved Blondie

, , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Earlier this year, we told you about the heartwarming story of Blondie, a stallion from the Fish Springs Herd Management Area (HMA) in Nevada. He was torn from his home after he and all 17 members of his family were captured during a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) bait trap operation. Fortunately, AWHC board member and founder of Freedom Reigns Equine Sanctuary, Alicia Goetz, stepped up to provide him and his family a forever home in her refuge. 

Today, we write to you with a heavy heart to let you know that our beloved Blondie has passed.


Video taken by John T. Humphrey

Blondie was a monumental figure in the Fish Springs HMA. Named after his ash-blonde mane, he immediately stood out from other horses. As a result, he was extremely popular amongst not just locals, but people from all over the country – and all over the world – who would flock to the area in hopes of catching a glimpse of his beauty.

But first and foremost, Blondie was a loving father. He was instinctively paternal and deeply protective of his herd. He would often watch stoically from the sidelines as his young ones chased birds, and, seemingly in amusement, welcome them back as they proudly ran to him. 

After decades of overseeing the range, Blondie and his family were rounded up by the BLM early this year and separated in holding.Thankfully, our friends at Freedom Reigns Equine Sanctuary were able to take in and reunite all 18 of Blondie’s herd, keeping his family intact. 

But last month this elder stallion passed away due to a colic episode and a ruptured bowel. According to Freedom Reigns, his sons Cree, Big Red, and Rustler, stayed with his body for a while, almost as if to hold vigil for the patriarch of their herd.


Photo of Blondie and his herd by Troy Wright Photography

Our team at the American Wild Horse Campaign is incredibly grateful to Alicia and Freedom Reigns for providing Blondie a safe home with his family for the last 8 months and for saving him from a lifetime of confinement in government holding facilities. And we pledge to honor his memory by continuing our fight to end the cruel roundup of the thousands of other wild horses like him throughout the West.

Rest In Peace, Blondie.

AWHC Team

Our work shedding light on roundups.

, , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently concluded the Robert’s Mountain Complex wild horse roundup in Nevada. The American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) deployed humane observers to bear witness to and document every single day of this heartbreaking operation, reporting back what would otherwise go unseen.

Meredith, this roundup was a hard one to witness. In a little over two weeks, 858 wild horses were captured, and 10 horses were left dead. 

Tragically, a wild stallion, in a desperate attempt to reclaim his freedom, vaulted from the trap, only to become ensnared in the fence panels and suffer a broken leg. Although he achieved a fleeting moment of freedom, the cost was his very existence; after being recaptured, and to due his severe injury, he was euthanized.


Photo by Nenah DeMunster for AWHC

Just one day later, a semi-truck carrying 39 recently captured wild horses from the roundup flipped onto its side while transporting the horses to a holding facility. As a result, seven horses died, three in the accident and four more were  euthanized due to their injuries.

This is unacceptable. We know all too well that this is not the first time that wild horses have died during government operations, and sadly, it won’t be the last. AWHC is working to document these tragic deaths, expose the reality of roundups, and take the information to the media and Congress – but we need your help. Can you chip in to help us continue our work bringing light to these brutal practices?

CHIP IN →

Our photos and footage from the Robert’s Mountain roundup have been seen by more than 400,000 people on social media and we worked to get a piece in the Las Vegas Sun exposing what was happening to these wild horses during this operation.


Photo by Nenah DeMunster for AWHC

We also mobilized advocates to take action, including calling for cameras on helicopters and all wranglers. This resulted in over 24,000 messages being sent to the BLM and Congress calling for transparency and accountability.

Every step of the way, the American Wild Horse campaign is working to hold the BLM accountable for its treatment of wild horses and burros during these roundups.

Today, we’re asking you to please continue to support the critical work that the AWHC does. From documenting roundups to sharing the atrocities, to mobilizing and advocating for change – your support helps fuel our efforts. Can you please make a donation to help us continue? 

CHIP IN →

Thank you for caring about wild horses and burros,

The American Wild Horse Campaign Team

For the lead mare in your life

, , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

In the West, wild horses travel in herds that typically consist of one or two stallions, a group of mares, and their offspring. While the dominant stallion protects the herd and steps in when danger arises, the leader is usually a seasoned mare, often called the lead mare.

The lead mare’s dominance is established not through aggression, but through the respect of her wisdom. When she whinnies, the herd listens. Where she goes, the herd follows.

When the American Wild Horse Campaign’s (AWHC) partner, CALLIDAE, a Los Angeles-based equestrian brand, learned about the plight of wild horses, they wanted to help. As a company powered by women and for women, CALLIDAE was entranced by the concept of the lead mare. As a result, they made AWHC the first beneficiary of The MARE Project with a portion of the proceeds benefiting our work to keep wild horses wild.

Photo of a mare from Salt Wells in Wyoming by Kimerlee Curyl

>> SHOP THE MARE PROJECT <<

Since the launch of The MARE Project collection in July 2023, CALLIDAE has successfully sold nearly $10,000 worth of products and has continued to support our mission. As part of the company’s commitment to fostering a spirit of giving during the holidays, CALLIDAE has introduced two new holiday MARE sweatshirts in Forest Green and Plum.

With a portion of the proceeds from each MARE product donated to AWHC, you’ll not only be spreading holiday cheer but also contributing to the conservation of America’s wild horses and burros.

Many of us know a powerful woman who embodies the characteristics of a lead mare: clear and confident communication, inspiration, and leadership toward positive change. At AWHC, we’re lucky to have many lead mares guiding our mission, including board member Patricia Miller who has made a name for herself as an innovative leader in sustainable consumer product manufacturing and design. Patricia, an avid equestrian and advocate, has recently teamed up with CALLIDAE to promote The MARE Project and the company’s social and ecologically driven mission.

Patricia Miller, AWHC Board Member in The MARE Short Mane Sweatshirt (top) and The MARE Bar Sweatshirt in Plum (bottom)

>> SHOP THE MARE PROJECT <<

The MARE Project serves as a daily reminder of the power of collective action, led by females, to drive progress. This holiday season, consider a purchase from CALLIDAE for the lead mare in your life, and together, let’s drive continued progress for wild horse protection.

– The AWHC Team

Did you see our email?

, , , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Did you see our email? Thanks to a generous donor, we have the opportunity for your donation towards our Giving Tuesday goal to be doubled, bringing our total Giving Tuesday impact to $200,000! Since we sent this email, we’ve seen an outpouring of support from donors like you, but we still really need your help to unlock this matching opportunity.

This incredible match is only unlocked once we raise $35,000 towards our Giving Tuesday goal, and we’re not quite there yet. Can you read our email below and chip in to help us unlock this Giving Tuesday match?

CHIP IN →

Thank you,

Suzanne Roy, Executive Director

On Tuesday, November 7th, American Wild Horse Campaign wrote:

Giving Tuesday $100,000 Matching Gift Fund
Unlocked at $35,000 raised

Can you chip in right away to help us unlock this incredible $100,000 matching opportunity for Giving Tuesday?

CHIP IN →

We have some great news.

Giving Tuesday is just three weeks away and we have set an ambitious goal to raise $100,000 to continue fueling AWHC’s critical work. But today, we are excited to announce that a generous donor has offered to match every single Giving Tuesday donation, bringing our total impact to $200,000! But we can’t do it without you. Can you add your donation right away? >>

Giving Tuesday is our most critical fundraising day of the year. With this generous matching opportunity, we have the chance to double our impact so we can keep up our work in the field, on the courts, and in Congress in 2024.

But here’s the thing. This matching opportunity will only be unlocked once we raise $35,000 towards our goal ahead of Giving Tuesday.

Will you please make a donation right away to help us unlock this important match and DOUBLE your impact this Giving Tuesday? We can’t waste this incredible opportunity to unlock this 2X match, so we’re asking for your help.

CHIP IN →

Thanks to ongoing federal mismanagement, wild horses and burros face terrifying roundups, life in captivity, and the threat of entering the slaughter pipeline. The reality is the system is broken and right now our work is more important than ever. Our team has exposed these cruelties, and every single day we work to hold the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) accountable and fight to keep wild horses and burros wild. 

But we need to act now. 

Unlocking this 2X match would be a huge boost for the work we can do in 2024, and it could double your impact for wild horses. This generous donor has stepped up for Giving Tuesday, and now we’re asking you to do the same.

So please, will you chip in whatever you can afford today to help us unlock this incredible matching opportunity for our $100,000 fundraising goal? We need your help to raise the initial $35,000, and you have the chance to have your impact DOUBLED.

CHIP IN →

Load More